Ron Wroblewski's Reviews > Endurance: An Epic of Polar Adventure

This book is about Ernest Shackleton written by his best friend Frank Worsley. Worsley admired and almost worshipped Shackleton and accompanied him on several explorations including the one where they were trapped on the ice for many months until the ice crushed and sank the ship Endurance. Amazingly all 28 men on this exploration survived. I want to quote from the end of the book what Worsley says about Shackleton:
"I recalled his constant anxiety for his men, his nobleness in always insisting that he himself should be the first to suffer any hardship that had to be undergone...He was loyal and patriotic. Endurance, courage, determination, imagination, love of adventure and of leading a man's life, self-abnegation, the power to command, presence of mind in facing danger, humor, optimism and kindliness - such were his characteristics."
These words mean a lot to me, having just gone through a tornado, losing my car and probably my RV, not knowing what is ahead. It straightens my spine, keeps me calm, knowing this too shall pass. Worsley ends the book with this quote
'The rules of the service are but three,
When you sail with Admiral Death,
Steady your hand in time of squalls,
Stand to the last by him who falls,
And answer clear to the voice that calls,
Aye, aye, Admiral Death

I hope I can live up to this